Child Shot and Killed Inside Frayser Apartment
Last Edited: Monday, 17 Mar 2008, 4:57 PM CDT
Created: Monday, 17 Mar 2008, 3:57 PM CDT
Child Fatally Shot in Frayser
By Lauren Johnson
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WHBQ FOX13 myfoxmemphis.com) --
Police are investigating the shooting death of a six-year-old in a case that appears to be a tragic accidental shooting. According to investigators, a seven-year-old is being questioned about a handgun the children found in a couch at home.
According to prevention expert Susan Helms, of LeBonheur Children's Hospital, 9 out of 10 times, having a gun inside a home for protection, results in someone being hurt.
That's what happened Monday and now there's a warning for parents who pack protection.
Shortly after nine a.m. Monday, a deadly gunshot fired from a silver revolver sent the older child's mother into a panic after the six-year-old boy was shot in the face.
"The mother ran out of the apartment and flagged down one of the residents to call police," said Monique Martin, of the Memphis Police Department.
Memphis police officers swarmed the scene at the Greenbrier Apartments in Frayser to investigate. Police said three adults and two children were inside the first floor apartment at the time of the shooting. Police said the kids found the loaded gun in the couch.
"As we understand at this point, these two children were in a room at the time the adults heard the gunshots," said Martin.
While police investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, Helms called the shooting death tragic. She urged parents not to keep guns in their homes, but if they insist, she offered a few safety precautions:
Keep the gun in a safe. Never have the gun loaded. Keep the gun locked and keep the ammunition in a separate place from where the gun is stored.
"Kids are just curious," she said. "I don't think parents understand that they are strong enough by the age of three to pull the trigger on many guns, and until you're about eight-years-old, you don't understand the difference between a toy gun and a real gun. Or you don't understand the consequences behind it."
Helms said it her advice sounds obvious, but parents are still making simple mistakes. She said parents should continue to teach children not to touch guns, to tell an adult if they see one and practice the behavior continuously.
Gun locks can be purchased at a hardware store for as little as $10.
No charges have been filed against anyone inside the home at this time.
Last Edited: Monday, 17 Mar 2008, 4:57 PM CDT
Created: Monday, 17 Mar 2008, 3:57 PM CDT
Child Fatally Shot in Frayser
By Lauren Johnson
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WHBQ FOX13 myfoxmemphis.com) --
Police are investigating the shooting death of a six-year-old in a case that appears to be a tragic accidental shooting. According to investigators, a seven-year-old is being questioned about a handgun the children found in a couch at home.
According to prevention expert Susan Helms, of LeBonheur Children's Hospital, 9 out of 10 times, having a gun inside a home for protection, results in someone being hurt.
That's what happened Monday and now there's a warning for parents who pack protection.
Shortly after nine a.m. Monday, a deadly gunshot fired from a silver revolver sent the older child's mother into a panic after the six-year-old boy was shot in the face.
"The mother ran out of the apartment and flagged down one of the residents to call police," said Monique Martin, of the Memphis Police Department.
Memphis police officers swarmed the scene at the Greenbrier Apartments in Frayser to investigate. Police said three adults and two children were inside the first floor apartment at the time of the shooting. Police said the kids found the loaded gun in the couch.
"As we understand at this point, these two children were in a room at the time the adults heard the gunshots," said Martin.
While police investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, Helms called the shooting death tragic. She urged parents not to keep guns in their homes, but if they insist, she offered a few safety precautions:
Keep the gun in a safe. Never have the gun loaded. Keep the gun locked and keep the ammunition in a separate place from where the gun is stored.
"Kids are just curious," she said. "I don't think parents understand that they are strong enough by the age of three to pull the trigger on many guns, and until you're about eight-years-old, you don't understand the difference between a toy gun and a real gun. Or you don't understand the consequences behind it."
Helms said it her advice sounds obvious, but parents are still making simple mistakes. She said parents should continue to teach children not to touch guns, to tell an adult if they see one and practice the behavior continuously.
Gun locks can be purchased at a hardware store for as little as $10.
No charges have been filed against anyone inside the home at this time.
I bet that gun the kids found in the couch was there for protection! But wait, it ended up killing them!
Wow! Guns rule! They make society safer!
51-566-514 
And of course, I'm agreeing with you 
Comment